NEO wrestlers place second at 2024 NJCAA Coaches Duals

Jan. 15—MIAMI, Okla. — The ninth-ranked Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Norsemen finished second behind Clackamas County (Oregon) after falling to the fourth-ranked team 22-18 Saturday at the 2024 National Junior College Athletic Association Coaches Duals.

The wrestling duals got underway Friday, featuring 10 of the top 11 ranked junior college teams in the nation, including the host team — the ninth-ranked Norsemen. A total of 14 teams in the top 20 were in this year's field.

The NEO wrestlers advanced to Saturday's championship after pool play on Friday. They advanced to the championship with a 31-11 win over Labette Community College, a 46-4 victory over Otera Junior College (Colorado) and a 57-0 dismantling of Iowa Lakes.

In the championship quarterfinals, NEO defeated Triton College (Colorado) 33-12.

Norseman Garrett Johnson earned a 22-8 decision over Triton's Andre Giurini at 125 pounds, and Michael Domino put more points on the board for NEO with a 19-0 technical fall over Jack Connell at 133 pounds. NEO's Marcus Terry followed with a 14-11 decision over Ashton Massaro at 141 pounds.

Triton claimed its first points of the match with an Anthony Bitner 4-0 win over NEO's Dawson Lapping at 149 pounds, but the Norsemen responded with a Jackson Wilkins 15-0 technical fall over Triton's Sean King at 157 pounds.

Triton's Connor Svanter beat NEO's Justice Compton 7-5 at 165 pounds, and Triton also got a win from Mustafa Salimi, who pinned NEO's Tye Frnka in their 174-pound match.

Seneca High School graduate Gabriel Commons got NEO back on the board with a 12-0 decision over Bennett Eichert at 184 pounds. The top ranked juco wrestler in the nation at 197 pounds, Geoff Freeman, kept the points coming for the Norsemen with an injury-shortened win over Ghee Rachal.

{span style="font-size: 16px;"}In the final quarterfinal match, NEO's Roman Garcia pinned Tylahn Ladd in their heavyweight match.{/span}

In a rematch of earlier pool play, NEO beat Labette 32-13 in the semifinal round.

Johnson got NEO points off the jump, with a 22-6 technical fall over Labette's Kolton Misener in the 125-pound match. Norseman Hunter Waits followed with a close 3-1 decision over Corban Zugelder, the No. 5 ranked juco wrestler in the land, at 133 pounds.

Terry logged an 11-7 decision over Labette's Jazen Brown at 141 pounds, and in the 149-pound match, Labette's Jamarius Koshko pinned NEO's Lapping.

The 157-pound match pitted NEO's Wilkins, the ninth-ranked wrestler in his weight class, against Carthage High School graduate and fifth-ranked Davion King. Wilkins defeated King with a 15-0 technical fall.

Compton recorded a 12-2 decision over Labette's Sam Duling 12-2 at 165 pounds, and in the 174-pound match, NEO's Frnka rebounded from his quarterfinal loss and won an injury-shortened match with fifth-ranked Garrett Davis.

Commons pinned Labette County's Corey Chillcoat in their 184-pound match, and Labette's Matthew Marcum upset NEO's Freeman 8-3 at 197 pounds.

Labette's Gabe Kant posted a 11-3 major decision over NEO's Garcia in their heavyweight match.

Championship

In the championship match, Clackamas won the first six matches and NEO claimed the last four as Clackamas went on to claim first place.

At 125 pounds, Ane'e Vigil beat NEO's Johnson with a 17-5 decision. Clackamas followed with another win when Tim Lopez squeaked out a 1-0 win over NEO's Waits in their 133-pound match.

Clackamas won another tight match when Cesar Avelar pulled out a 5-4 win over NEOs Terry at 141-pounds. Reggie Raiz followed with a 8-1 decision over NEO's Lapping at 149 pounds and Josh Hannan earned a 15-1 decision over NEO's Jackson Wilkins in their 157-pound match.

At 165 pounds, Clackamas logged its final match win of the day with an Austin Raby 15-0 technical fall over NEO's Compton.

The Norsemen got their first win at 174 pounds, when Frnka posted a 17-1 technical fall over Paul Ortiz. Commons earned a 7-3 decision over Clackamas' Braden Pease at 184 pounds and NEO's Freeman got back on the winning track with a 14-3 major decision over Asaih Kamplain at 197 pounds.

NEO's Garcia closed out the match with a pin of Clackamas' Grady Hamilton in the heavyweight match.

In the the third-place match, Western Wyoming defeated Labette 30-10.